ESCOM has acknowledged the pressure on residents to update their prepaid meters before the deadline. In light of complaints and high public demand, officials including Dr. Hosen Sopa have decided to extend the working hours of ESCOM offices. The move is aimed at alleviating the backlog and addressing the needs of frustrated customers, many of whom voiced their concerns during the wait.
Residents expressed their frustration over ESCOM's communication regarding the meter upgrade process. Some individuals voiced concerns that they were not adequately informed about the changes, contributing to their long wait times in queues. ESCOM representatives acknowledged this communication gap and are working to bolster their messaging efforts to ensure all customers understand the importance of these upgrades.
The situation is particularly dire for the elderly and those suffering from chronic illnesses who have faced significant difficulties during this process. With long queues and minimal support available, many elderly individuals had to endure stressful conditions. Community members have urged ESCOM to consider special provisions to aid those in vulnerable positions, emphasizing the need for tailored assistance during such critical updates.
Electricity and Energy Minister Dr. Hosen Sopa announced that ESCOM will extend its working hours to accommodate customers who still need to update their prepaid electricity meters ahead of the upcoming deadline. Many residents, particularly those in Orlando, have expressed dissatisfaction with how ESCOM communicated the need for meter upgrades. Elderly individuals have encountered difficulties, often waiting long hours under challenging conditions with ailments like diabetes, leading to increased calls for better service and extended deadlines. In a live report from Cosmo City, where long lines have been reported, ESCOM spokesperson Amanda discussed the ongoing situation, highlighting that many customers still don't fully understand the upgrade process or the urgency of purchasing electricity. Despite the long queues and earlier reports of a lack of staff, Amanda reassured residents that people were being attended to. However, confusion persists among customers regarding the specific requirements of upgrading their meters, which were configured back in August 2023. Amanda and Dr. Sopa pointed out the importance of proper communication regarding the meter upgrades, admitting there have been breakdowns in messaging. While efforts are being made to assist elderly citizens and those with disabilities, it appears these measures may not be sufficient, as many elderly residents continue to suffer from long waiting times. ESCOM is committed to serving all customers and will continue to work even late into the night, if necessary, to ensure everyone has the opportunity to upgrade their prepaid meters before the deadline.Why are South Africans so clueless? This is not a sudden problem. But, our ignorance is always someone elses fault. Whether it is the government or citizens we seem to wait for 4:23 disaster to occur before we react. So sad.
There no excuses 8 mouths ago was warn to short out the meters but its normal last minute you cant toy toy it wont work
Now we know why we have had all these problems, all these people have had free electricity while we have been paying for electricity for all these years - they think its their entitlement, nobody gets anything for nothing.
My household was also not told our meter would just suddenly stop accepting paid tokens months ago. And we were given no help other than a vague SMS. And had to then do it manually to upgrade our prepaid meters.. So why is it alright if the general tax base has to just accept sudden changes without any information. But they are able months afterwards to be publically changed over to its deadline
What about other communities who created their own systems and cant pay for electricity
It is important for customers to pay for the electricity. For a failed state like South Africa, this is profound!!!
